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Renewable Energy

The Ocean Energy Research Center in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Makai is committed to the research and development of ocean-based renewable energy sources. Makai’s renewable energy engineers are exploring practical ways of harnessing the abundance of natural energy present in the ocean using existing and emerging technologies such as:

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a process that can produce electricity by using the temperature difference between deep cold ocean water and warm tropical surface waters. OTEC plants pump large quantities of deep cold seawater and surface seawater to run a power cycle and produce electricity. OTEC is firm power (24/7), a clean energy source, environmentally sustainable and capable of providing massive levels of energy.

Seawater Air Conditioning uses a naturally occurring cold water reservoir for air conditioning. Cold water is drawn from a lake or ocean through a deep water intake pipe to a cooling station, where the "cold" is transferred to the buildings via a fresh water loop that never mixes with the ocean or lake water. SWAC can reduce electrical costs associated with cooling by 80 to 90 percent, making it economically attractive in an increasing number of locations worldwide.